Oxenhope Straw Race

What to expect

Teams of two or more set off from noon, in groups a minute apart, carrying a straw bale of around 15 to 20kg. The route is about two and a half miles, much of it uphill, calling at six pubs where runners drink a pint before moving on. Spectators line the road and gather outside the pubs, and runners may get a dousing of water on the way. The finish is at the Dog and Gun. The quickest teams finish in about fifteen minutes; others take considerably longer. Everyone who finishes gets a medal, and there are prizes for speed and for the best costumes.

The story behind it

The race began as a village challenge and has grown into a much-loved charity fixture, with its 50th running celebrated in recent years. It has raised more than £450,000, most of it for Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice, with the rest shared among local causes such as Haworth Riding for the Disabled. Local pubs, sponsors and volunteers keep it going, and the fancy dress has become as competitive as the running. It remains a very local affair at heart, with villagers turning out along the road to cheer on friends, neighbours and complete strangers dressed as superheroes.

Getting there and home

Keighley, on the Airedale line from Leeds and Bradford, is the nearest mainline station. From there the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, a heritage steam line, runs through Haworth to Oxenhope; race numbers have earned free travel on the day, and a shuttle bus has linked Oxenhope station to the start. Roads on the route are closed during the race. Free parking has been offered at a car park in Haworth to keep cars out of the village.

Watching, taking part and tips

Watching is free: pick a pub doorway on the route and cheer the bales through. Entrants must be 18 or over and register in advance or on the day, with entries tending to sell out. Only beer drinkers qualify for prizes, but no one has to drink. Wear comfortable shoes, bring sun cream and a waterproof, and stay for the evening party if you have a ticket.

What to bring and wear

Good news: the race-day page says bales are supplied and collected at the Bay Horse, so you can leave agricultural shopping off the to-do list. Put your energy into the team costume, sturdy footwear and how you'll move together once you've got the bale. The organisers' checklist also mentions water and cash, and warns of uneven ground. Try the costume out first — can you see, walk and carry in it? A magnificent cardboard creation is less funny if it stops you helping your teammate. Check the final race pack for collection and reporting instructions, as the website says its schedule is only a guide. Coming by public transport? Think about what happens to the costume afterwards. And keep your bags manageable, so your supporters don't find themselves hauling all the non-straw luggage uphill.

Where to watch

The race runs on open public roads and footpaths, and the organisers ask everyone to follow the marshals. So choosing where to watch takes a bit more thought than joining the nearest crowd. Their suggestions include the pub stops and the final climb to the Dog and Gun; wherever you stand, make sure you're clear of runners, bales and other traffic. Ask a marshal before crossing a live part of the route. With children, explain beforehand where your team will come past and agree a meeting point away from the finish itself. Don't try to follow every group by car: the website warns that parking in the village is limited and suggests car-sharing. Go by the current event instructions for arrival rather than expecting an earlier year's parking to be repeated.

Make a day of it nearby

The Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth and the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway give a longer stay two quite different flavours. The museum explores the family home and the rooms linked with the sisters' writing, while the railway has its own trains, stations and heritage visits. Pick the museum for the literary story, or the railway when the journey itself is the treat. Check the railway's dated timetable and fares separately from any race travel offer, and look at the museum's opening calendar, as not every day is the same. Neither needs squeezing into the gap before your team's start. Give it a separate morning or day so you're not watching the clock, and keep your race plan focused on reaching the right reporting or viewing point.

Accessibility and families

The railway publishes its own accessibility page, timetable and fares, and the museum has detailed access information and a ground-floor ticket. Use those to plan each outing, but remember that a heritage attraction nearby isn't a shuttle or a through-ticket for the Straw Race. If you're relying on a train to make registration, check the timetable and ask the organisers about the last leg between the station and the start. Plan your return after watching your team finish, too, not just the outward train. For the museum, ask which rooms and routes will work for your group before buying the ticket that suits. Keeping these questions separate stops you paying for a lovely attraction and still lacking a workable way to the event. Save the confirmed travel details with the race pack so everyone's working from the same plan.

Questions people ask

Where it is

Map pin shows the approximate area where the event happens. Open in OpenStreetMap ↗

Go straight to the source

Independent research. The organiser’s own information always wins — we have not visited or tested the journeys.

• Oxenhope Straw Race ↗
• Visit Bradford listing ↗
• Race organiser: practical race-day information ↗
• Race organiser: charitable purpose ↗
• Brontë Parsonage Museum: visits and ticket distinctions ↗
• Keighley & Worth Valley Railway: timetable and visits ↗
• Railway: accessibility planning ↗